Syndicate

NEW ORLEANS (Sunday, April 1, 2012) – Brittlyn Stable’s Gantry, rated just behind the early pace, rallied boldly when set down for the drive and got up to be best by three-quarters of a length in Sunday’s $150,000 Duncan F. Kenner Stakes on Fair Grounds’ Louisiana Derby Day supporting stakes program.

“I can’t take more of this,” said Gantry’s excited owner Evelyn Benoit. “Yes, I can. I want to win the 12th race, too.” (That was the Southern Oaks Plantation Costa Rising Stakes, where that ownership’s Star Guitar was going to try to become the richest Louisiana-bred earner of all time.)

Gantry, trained by Ron Faucheux, was winning his third stakes of the season during Fair Grounds’ Closing Day program of this winter’s Crescent City session. He also won the $75,000 Thanksgiving Handicap on opening day.

“This is a very easy horse to ride,” said winning jockey Richard Eramia. “I had plenty of horse and I was always in perfect position. He gave me a very strong finish. He can run. He’s a good horse.’

Gantry paid mutuels of $8, $4.20 and $2.80, toured the six furlongs in 1:08.58 and increased his career earnings to $284,850 with his sixth lifetime win in 11 career starts. His final time was a stakes record and the fastest six-furlong time of the meet.

Whispering Oaks Farm’s Joe Hollywood, who set the pace with torrid splits of 21.57 and 44.24, held down the second spot at the wire, paying $6.40 and $4.20 while finishing a length and a half to the good of the Estate of Oliver Pierce’s Sweetsouthernmoon, who returned $5.20 to show.

LOOK AT THE TIME RULES CRESCENT CITY DERBY – Hooties Racing’s Look At the Time, well back early, rallied boldly outside the leaders when set down for the drive, took command at the furlong grounds and drew off to win Sunday’s $75,000 Crescent City Derby restricted to accredited Louisiana-bred sophomores by three and a half-lengths.

“This is fabulous,” said winning rider Corey Lanerie, winning his third race of the day on Fair Grounds’ closing day of this winter’s season. “This horse has a turn of foot that’s unbelievable.”

Look At the Time toured the 1 1/16-distance in 1:44.74, increased his career earnings to $105,974 with his third win in four lifetime starts and returned mutuels of $4.80, $3 and $2.60.

“This feels pretty good,” said winning trainer Wes Hawley. “I just wish he’d been able to get going a little sooner, but he got hung up on the first turn.”

Dean, Fox, Broth and Werner’s Event City pressed the pace, gained the advantage in upper stretch, could not withstand the winner late but held down the second spot at the wire, paying $4.20 and $3.20, while a neck back in third was Danny Ray Butler’s Benwill, who returned $5.80 for the show spot.

Mario Reyes and Gerard Perron’s Wilma’s Numberone set early fractions of 23.43 and 47.45 before tiring.